Uighur scholar Rahile Dawut, known for her expertise in the folklore and traditions of her people, has been sentenced to life in prison
This distressing development stems from her
conviction on charges related to endangering state security in a secret trial
that took place in December 2018. Despite her appeal, her conviction was
upheld, as reported by the San Francisco-based Dui Hua Foundation.
John Kamm, the executive director of the Dui
Hua Foundation, expressed deep sorrow over Dawut's sentencing, calling it a
"cruel tragedy" and a significant loss for the Uighur community and
advocates of academic freedom. Professor Rahile Dawut served as a professor at
Xinjiang University and was the founder of the university's Ethnic Minorities
Folklore Research Center.
Dawut's disappearance occurred in late 2017
amid a government crackdown specifically targeting the Uighur population, an
ethnic group of predominantly Muslim heritage native to China's northwest
Xinjiang region.
For years, her whereabouts remained unknown,
and the Chinese authorities did not disclose details about the charges against
her. This month, the Dui Hua Foundation uncovered a Chinese government document
revealing her life sentence.
Despite her international recognition for her
research on sacred Islamic sites and Uighur cultural practices in Xinjiang and
Central Asia, which included lectures as a visiting scholar at institutions
like Cambridge and the University of Pennsylvania, Dawut has become one of over
400 prominent academics, writers, performers, and artists detained in Xinjiang.
Critics argue that the Chinese government's
actions are aimed at undermining and erasing Uighur culture, language, and
identity.
Joshua Freeman, a researcher at Academia
Sinica and former translator for Dawut, noted that the government's targeting
of intellectuals appears indiscriminate, and it may not be related to her
academic work but rather her Uighur ethnicity.
Dawut's daughter, Akeda Pulati, expressed
shock and called for her mother's release, emphasizing her innocence and the
cruelty of the life sentence. She described her mother as an incredibly
dedicated and hardworking person who sought to contribute positively to
society.
Mukaddas Mijit, a Uighur ethnomusicologist
based in Brussels, underscored Dawut's role as an adviser and mentor to
scholars, acting as a bridge between global academia and Uighur culture. Mijit
emphasized that Dawut was a guardian of Uighur identity, a target of the
Chinese government's efforts to erase the rich cultural heritage of the Uighur
people.
This troubling development adds to ongoing
concerns about the treatment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, with estimates of
over one million individuals in detention in "counter-extremism
centers." China has defended its actions, citing the need to combat
extremism and terrorism, but international scrutiny and condemnation persist.
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